Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Roberto Azevedo, visited Rīga on his first trip to Latvia. Azevedo had meetings with President Andris Bērziņš, Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, and the President of the Bank of Latvia Ilmārs Rimšēvičs.

From the time of the renewal of independence in 1991, the Latvian government has honoured its fallen soldiers on November 11 (Lāčplēša diena), the day we remember our heroes. March 16 is not an official state remembrance day. The senior officials and members of government do not participate in March 16 events at the Freedom Monument. Nevertheless, as a democratic country, Latvia respects and also guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The Interparliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy held in Rīga on 5–6 March was one of the six interparliamentary events organised by the Saeima within the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

When we meet our friends and partners outside Latvia, we want to explain Latvia to others by telling our story. Latvian Institute continues the video campaign with brand new videos to create unique stories of Latvia.

The total number of tourists visiting the city reached 2 million last year, which represents a 15.6 percent increase comparing to 2013. A total of 1,122,926 visitors stayed at hotels and other accommodations in Rīga during the year of European Culture Capital.